WIX Archives

Re: Quite clearly lots of people do want to talk about it!

Posted by Paul Coggan on Mon Jun 17, 2002 04:09:15 PM

In reply top Re: Quite clearly lots of people do want to talk about it! posted by Tim Savage on Mon Jun 17, 2002 03:56:01 PM

: Paul:
:
: There aren't any hard definitions in place because most of
: the owner/operators don't care. We are interested in the
: longevity of the airframe and the ability to fly it. Lets
: look to the NASM and the USAFM to preserve airplanes with
: their "factory" pieces. You can't have it both ways, you
: cannot preserver them with all the original bits and stil
: l fly them-sixty years later.
:
: I personally believe that if a airplane is built from scra
: tch like the Flugwerks 190s or the 262s then they are repl
: icas. I don't consider a Mustang or Spitfire that has had
: all its skin, etc replaced a replica. It is a fact of life
: that if you want to operate these airplanes most of the o
: ld metal is eventually going to go. I don't imagine that i
: n the next 10-15 years you will see P-51s flying with much
: original skin...the longerons are just turning to dust fr
: om what I understand.
:
: My 2 cents.

Tim!

Strange as it may seem I agree with you! I will ask you a question then - if someone comes along and builds a Harpoon from total scratch and says it is the same as yours (which clearly has not been built from scratch) you would agree with them?

I have said many times we must accept that major structure has to be replaced if we are going to keep warbirds airworthy. In some cases manufacturers spares are available (T-6 as an example, plus Hunters, F-86s etc).

All I have said I DISAGREE with is someone building something from zero and then representing it as a far more historical piece with provenance than it really is.

It is fact though that photographs of a restoration, original documents etc etc are often presented by entrants to the EAA Warbird awards.

regards


Paul

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